Our Taboo Series continues with another of the most controversial and disagreeable topics within Christianity today--speaking in tongues. This is a topic that warrants talking about because of the emphasis that some professing Christians put on this particular gift of the (Holy) Spirit. As always, we’re going to examine what the Bible has to say and let’s see if the Bible matches what we currently believe.

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God."
(Acts 2:1-11 - ESV)

What are tongues according to Acts 2? Tongues represent a gift of the Holy Spirit in the ability to miraculously speak in a language different than your own as you declare the works of God and praise Him. The context of the passages clearly point out that tongues involves speaking an actual human language. It is not babble. In fact, if you do a search in your Bible of “tongue” or “tongues” you will find it is used to describe the body part, speech or language.

Now what is the purpose of tongues? It is a method that God used in order to work His will and purpose. In Acts 2, many people (especially Jews) were saved because they heard of the great works of God in their own language spoken by Jewish followers of Christ such as Peter. Tongues pops up again 8 chapters later.

And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
(Acts 10:45-47 - KJV)

Here is a momentual occasion where Gentiles are speaking in tongues, showing that a non-Jew who did not subscribe to the Mosaic Law could have the Holy Spirit. In this case, the tongues were more used as God’s stamp of approval for Cornelius and his household. So we had tongues first among Jewish Christians (Peter, John, etc.) in Acts 2, the Gentile Christians in Acts 10 and the next group:

He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
(Acts 19:2-6 - KJV)

God is now giving his stamp of approval to John the Baptist’s disciples, who had not heard the gospel before Paul’s visit. When they believed the gospel and were baptized, then Paul laid his hands on them and the Holy Ghost moved upon them as they spoke in tongues.

So what can we gather from Acts 2, 10 and 19? That speaking in tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit which involves praising God and declaring His great deeds in a language different than your own that you could never naturally speak yourself. The ability to speak in tongues is not conjured up but is given through the working of God’s Spirit. Lastly, the three times that tongue speaking events occur are major turning points in the early church with the conversion of many Jews and those who had formerly held to the Mosaic Law in Acts 2, the welcoming in of Gentile believers in Acts 10 and John the Baptist’s disciples finally becoming Jesus disciples in Acts 19. Also, keep in mind that these events occurred outside of a church meeting.

And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
(1 Corinthians 12:28-30 - ESV)

One of the biggest questions about tongues is whether every believer has it. Just by the fact that Paul asks these questions within the context of showing that believers all have different functions individually in the body of Christ should indicate that not everyone is meant to speak in tongues. Also, looking at the phrase “God has appointed” in verse 28 shows us that it is the Lord who chooses which spiritual gifts you have and how they are to be used.

Tongues do not prove you are saved or that the Holy Spirit dwells inside of you. It is how  we respond to the gospel that determines whether we are saved and God’s Spirit is within us. Remember that those who spoke in tongues in the Bible were “filled” with the Spirit when they spoke but already had the Spirit indwelling in them due to their faith. Another misconception about tongues is that it shows a person to be very spiritual. If it is the babble version of tongues being considered, then it actually shows the very opposite. Keep in mind that tongues are actual human languages and the Bible is consistent in this.

Now where does the babble version of tongues come from? And why is there a belief that tongues can also mean angelic and heavenly languages? Let’s examine some scriptures which are used to promote this view.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
(Romans 8:26 - ESV)

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
(1 Corinthians 13:1 - ESV)

Romans 8:26 can not be used as a proof verse for a heavenly language without reading something into what the scripture says. Have you ever been in a situation when you can’t speak and all you can do is groan?  Think about a woman who just received a phone call that her son was murdered. She wouldn’t be able to speak a word and she would wail and groan. Not speak “e-bed-cor-ro-de-sha.” So Romans 8:26 has nothing to even do with tongues.

In 1 Corinthians 13:1 and in the verses following, Paul is presenting a series of hypotheticals and he is using exaggerations to prove a point. Now if the tongues of angels is something for us to key in on, then why isn’t it mentioned elsewhere in the Bible? Why do you not see one character in the Bible use the tongues of angels? Also, why do you never read of angels speaking in an angelic language in scripture but instead speaking in the language of men?  Remember, it’s not about what your church does or what you parents and grandparents did, it’s about what the Bible says.

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